MEXICO: Few animals can survive the blistering heat of the Saharan Desert, but this specially adapted critter is one of them.
Equipped with dense, triangular shaped hair capable of reflecting visible and near-infrared light and dissipating heat, the Saharan silver ants (Cataglyphis bombycina) are able to endure temperatures of up to 70°C.
“This is a telling example of how evolution has triggered the adaptation of physical attributes to accomplish a physiological task and ensure survival, in this case to prevent Sahara silver ants from getting overheated,” Assistant Professor Nanfang Yu of Columbia Engineering said in a recent study.
In the study, conducted with colleagues from the University of Zürich and the University of Washington, Professor Yu has compared the ant’s appearance when crossing the desert surface to “a droplet of mercury”.
He points out that even with these super light-blocking capabilities, the Saharan silver ant has its limits, and can only forage in the desert sun for 10 minutes at most – or risk overheating.
